Cutler, Hester Must Bridge Gap

**LT2_3** · 02-06-2013, 12:38 PM

Originally Posted by green18

Maybe Trestman will put an end to all this WR nonsense once and for all and just let DH return punts and kickoffs. And possibly use him in a Darren Sproles/Percy Harvin role. There's still gas in the tank.

It's my impression that WR is a bad fit for what Hester does well. When he returns a kick well, he's standing still when he catches the ball, he has plenty of space to build up his speed, and he only needs to make twitch cuts.

As a WR, he can't seem to catch the ball if his body is in motion - limiting him to bubble screens, he has little space to get up to speed, and he doesn't appear to have any actual jukes that work at lower than full speed.

When he's in practice, he doesn't really have to worry about being hit so he can concentrate better and looks good. Once in a game, he gets jammed at the line, has to worry about being hit after the catch in the mid-range, and apparently can't catch the ball over his shoulder deep.

Unless he starts doing off-season drills with defensive players actually contesting him, I don't think he'll ever improve as a WR - and I think it's too late for him with the Bears.

**janos_51** · 02-06-2013, 01:09 PM

He could be Wes Welker in our offense. If he could feel out holes in the zone like Wes, catch like Wes and actually run forward instead of dancing like Wes when he does have the ball.

**thunderspirit** · 02-06-2013, 03:20 PM

Originally Posted by janos_51

He could be Wes Welker in our offense. If he could feel out holes in the zone like Wes, catch like Wes and actually run forward instead of dancing like Wes when he does have the ball.

i would change that to "could have been", and note that he should have had such a slot WR role from the get-go: run to an open spot, catch the ball, then make people miss.

but that ship has sailed. JMSO, it's time to move on.

**Bigwill** · 02-06-2013, 06:44 PM

I strongly disagree that Cutler and Hester need to get on the same page.

Hester needs to get on Cutler's page.

If he can't or won't, so be it. He's had his chances.

**Dirk** · 02-07-2013, 02:41 PM

They both better be on the same page and that page is Trestmans...

**steelcitysledge** · 02-07-2013, 05:41 PM

Originally Posted by Dirk

They both better be on the same page and that page is Trestmans...

Best response so far. Both Hester and Cutler are talents. Hester is a bit of a dimwit and Cutler is a bit of an @ss. IMO, it's Cutlers responsibility as QB to get the most out of his teammates so I put more blame on him for whatever disconnect exists.
That said, the biggest problem was a coaching staff that allowed this schism to exist without finding a way to address it properly. Hopefully Trestman has a plan.

Go Bears!

J

**brantcruz50** · 02-08-2013, 01:28 AM

I think when a GM holds a press conference after firing his coach, what he says is meaningful. And what he doesn't say might be even more meaningful.

He specifically mentioned Cutler (though somewhat reserved). He pointed to his disappointment at the results, but the under-use of giuys like Forte, Bennett, and even Kellen Davis. but i heard nothing from him that would suggest that Hester is on his "playmaker" radar, despite the fact that he has analysis that correlates big plays to wins.

I think Hester is gone. I appreciate all he has done, and wish him well. But think it is time.

**LakeAussie** · 02-08-2013, 05:38 AM

After all his years in college and the pros, Hester still hasn’t been coddled enough? According to who? To Drake, his pro position coach for the last six years (after Hester was converted to a WR)? To Drake, who’s job description includes coddling players who need coddling? And, according to Drake, the QB should be the one to coddle Hester more? As in the well known coddler, Cutler? As in the guy who said to his fiancé, this is what you do all day with our newborn son? As in the guy who said to his fiancé, I can’t do this? Hester is in big trouble then.

Seriously, Anthony Calvillo said that unlike all of his years in the CFL before Trestman, he had to spend a lot of his own time studying every week. That was as a QB. Calvillo said that Trestman’s offense was actually hardest on the WRs. It doesn’t seem like Trestman is going to slow everything down for one of his weakest links. And, I hope he doesn’t. People like Cutler, Marshall, Jeffrey, Knox, Forte, etc., who can play well in their first season of a new offense, are the ones who will make Trestman’s offense go go go and the ones who probably don’t have much extra time to coddle anyone next season. People who are slower at going up the learning curve should probably prepare themselves to take a backseat next season. Maybe this is part of what Hester is doing.

And, oh, I have loved Hester as a returner, even when I couldn’t understand what the heck he was thinking. If he ends up leaving, I’ll be sad, but it’ll be understandable.